Jensen calls Iowa State the "total package"

In one weekend, she scored the perfect Father’s Day gift and picked her future school – both included Cardinal and Gold.

The talented Arizona prep committed to Coach Bill Fennelly and Iowa State on Friday while attending the Cyclones’ Elite Camp. Jensen is the second 2013 recruit to commit to Iowa State, joining Mason City’s Jadda Buckley.

The decision was an easy one for the 6-foot-3 post player.

“The community, the tradition, the success – (Iowa State) is the whole package,” said Jensen, who took an Iowa State t-shirt back to Arizona for her dad, Chris.

Maybe Jensen was destined for Ames all along. Her parents are from the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area and she’s attended Iowa State’s Elite Camp the last three years. Jensen was in Ames last season for an exhibition game to check out Hilton.

“(Iowa State) sold me early,” Jensen said.

She likely impressed the Iowa State staff right away, too.

“She is a really smart and tough kid,” said Curtis Ekmark, who coaches Jensen on the Arizona Warriors AAU team. “She’s big and has a high basketball IQ. And she is really strong. There’s some 6-foot-3 kids who are really skinny, she’s 6-foot-3 and really has a strong body. She can really bang on the boards.”

Not only that, Jensen is versatile enough on offense to play down low or step out and drill a 3-pointer. Last year, she averaged 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds, helping lead Mountain View High School to a 29-3 record.

“She has the skill set to create a matchup problem for kids trying to guard her,” Ekmark said. “She can go out and shoot it from the 3.

“I love to run the floor,” Jensen added.

Fennelly has to like the sound of that. With Chelsea Poppens and Anna Prins set to graduate after next season, Jensen will be counted on to contribute right away.

QUOTEABLE

Curtis Ekmark on Billy Fennelly, was promoted to assistant coach on June 8. Ekmark coaches the Arizona Warriors, one of the top AAU teams in the country.

“As soon as (Billy) got the job, he was calling us right away about our kids. He is putting in a tremendous amount of work. (Jodi) Steyer is great too. Billy and Jodi, I think, are going to make a fantastic team recruiting.”